Our English-style House System, unique to American boarding schools, is the backbone of the family-like campus atmosphere at Darlington. First implemented in 1999, the House System encourages the development of strong, lifelong student-faculty mentoring relationships and creates an immediate sense of camaraderie for the students who are making their home on Darlington’s campus.
Resident students live in one of six houses on campus, three for boys and three for girls, each managed by a full-time head of house and faculty members who live on campus. Our residential life staff, who is dedicated and attuned to the unique needs of young people, teaches students to balance structure and routine with opportunities for independence and leadership. With 55 percent of Darlington’s faculty living on campus, there is never a shortage of helping hands when a student needs extra guidance on a homework assignment, advice about a friend, a shoulder to lean on, or someone to share in his or her successes.
Heads of house act as advocates, confidantes and stand-in parents for each student in their care. Each head of house also serves as an immediate point of contact for parents, building lifelong relationships with each student and his or her family. At the same time, they also focus on the little things that make the transition to boarding school easier, like creating a comfortable living space and even celebrating birthdays with ice cream, pizza and trips to ESPN Zone.
All Upper School teachers and students, both residential and day, are assigned to one of the six houses. This creates a true sense of community, allowing each student to develop his or her own identity within the group and bond with faculty members outside the classroom. Heads of house often plan retreats at the beginning of the year so that housemates can get to know one another. But once everyone has settled in, there is never a dull moment. With house socials, movie nights, intramural competitions and RUMPUS – the much-anticipated, fun-filled weekend each January that is chock full of student activities – there is always something to do with your new friends.
|
|
|